Contact: Sharon Fisher
January 11, 2008

Funds available for certified paralegal exam
Paralegal program is good starting point for entering legal profession

Interest in the legal profession may be one of the reasons Law & Order is entering its 18th season as the longest-running crime show on TV.

But for many, investing time and money attending law school may appear to be out of reach. According to Beth Snodgrass, Associate Professor at Mountain Empire Community College, the Paralegal program at MECC is a good place to enter the legal profession.

Snodgrass, who received her law degree at Washington and Lee University, says that the paralegal profession is expected to grow “much faster than average” through 2016, according to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics. As baby boomers retire, more job openings are expected and paralegals will be in high demand.

This spring semester, MECC is offering graduates of its Paralegal program the opportunity to sit for the Certified Paralegal exam at no cost, a savings of $250. A review course to prepare for the exam is also being offered this spring semester.

According to the National Association for Legal Assistants, certified Paralegals (also called Legal Assistants) are better paid and better utilized than their non-certified counterparts.

Paralegals work directly with attorneys and are valuable members of the legal team, assisting attorneys in areas such as file organization, clerical assistance, factual investigation, legal research, case management, assistance at trials and hearings, and client interviews.

Students in MECC’s Paralegal Studies program can complete their Associates in Applied Science Degree in two years and gain entry-level skills for employment in a variety of settings. While most paralegals are employed by private law firms, many have found jobs in the public sector, working in courthouses, public defenders’ offices, prosecutor’s offices, court clerk’s offices, and others. Paralegals are also employed by government agencies such as the Social Security Administration, Office of Hearings & Appeals.

New classes for the Paralegal Studies program will begin soon and seats are limited. Anyone interested in pursuing a career in the paralegal field should contact Beth Snodgrass at 276-523-7462 or bsnodgrass@me.vccs.edu.

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